Portugués

Lindo maravilhoso! (How beautiful!) The large majority of Portuguese speakers in the world live in Brazil. And while speakers of Standard Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese (português brasileiro or português do Brasil) can easily understand each other, the languages are still quite unique. Some compare this difference to that between British and American English, while others claim that the gap is greater, especially in spelling and vocabulary. In Brazil, influences from Amerindian languages, African languages, and English and French also add extra spice.

Brazilian Portuguese Fun Facts

Futebol—Brazil has a passion for football (or soccer as it’s called in the US). Brazil has won the World Cup 5 times, more than any other country.

Carnaval vocabulary: a trio elétrico is a float with a high power sound system and musicians playing on the roof. The popular Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso made the trio elétrico famous in his song, Atrás do Trio Elétrico só não vai quem já morreu—“Only the dead do not go after the Trio Elétrico.”

Brazil is the only Portuguese speaking country in the Americas, and the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world.

Czech philosopher Vilém Flusser emigrated to Brazil in 1941 at the age of 21, learned Portuguese, and taught and wrote books in the language for the next three decades.